Zips Set to Host 22nd Annual Akron Invitational

Friday, February 20

Akron, Ohio

3:30 PM

University of Akron

22nd Annual Akron Invitational

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February 19 | Track & Field

AKRON, Ohio – The University of Akron men's and women's track and field is set to host the 22nd annual Akron Invitational on Friday (Feb. 20) at the Stile Athletics Field House.

DIGITAL TICKETING: Mobile tickets are available for $10 at www.GoZips.com/tickets and must be purchased in advance. Mobile ticketing will be utilized for all home Akron track and field meets this season. Akron students with valid ID will be admitted free of charge. All fans should enter through the Akron student recreation center main entrance. Doors will open to the public at 2:30 p.m. on Friday.

PARKING UPDATE: Akron track and field fans are encouraged to park in Lots 1 (Corner of Carroll and Spicer Streets), 6, 9 and 10 for track and field meets. Parking in other lots without appropriate UA permit is subject to ticketing by parking services.

UP NEXT: Akron welcomes Cleveland State, Kent State, Lake Erie, Malone, Ohio, Pitt, Pitt-Johnstown, Slippery Rock, Walsh and Youngstown State to the Stile Athletics Field House on Friday (Feb. 20).

The 31-event meet will commence with the men's 5,000 meters at 3:30 p.m.

Live stats from the Akron Invitational will be available at GoZips.com.

ALLEN, BALTIC AND STYLES MAC'S TRACK AND FIELD ATHLETE OF THE WEEK HONORS:
Akron redshirt senior Cassidy Allen (Lakewood, N.Y.), junior Andrew Styles (Freeport, Bahamas) and sophomore Isaac Baltic (Medina, Ohio) were honored by the Mid-American Conference as its Track and Field Athletes of the Week, the league announced on Tuesday (Feb. 17).

Allen was selected as the women's Field Athlete of the Week, while Styles was named the men's Track Athlete of the Week and Baltic honored as the men's Field Athlete of the Week.

Allen cleared a career-best 14-2 (4.32m) to win the women's pole vault at the YSU Last Chance Invitational on Feb. 13. Her mark is the top-rated performance in the MAC this season, ranks 25th nationally and stands fourth in Akron indoor program history.

Baltic cleared a career-best 17-4.50 (5.30m) to win the men's pole vault at the YSU Last Chance Invitational. His mark ranks No. 1 in the conference this season and No. 46 nationally in the NCAA.

Styles won the men's 400 meters at the YSU Last Chance Invitational in a career-best time of 47.36, while also placing second in the 200 meters with a mark of 21.20. His 400m performance ranks second in league this season, and his 200m mark also stands second in the conference.

LAST TIME OUT:
Akron registered 11 victories as part of 23 overall top three performances at the Youngstown State Last Chance Invitational on Feb. 13.

HOW IT HAPPENED:
• Freshman Te'Aira Branham-Patrick (Dayton, Ohio) bested the field in the women's 60 and 200 meters in career-best times of 7.53 and 24.62, respectively.
• Andrew Styles won the men's 400 meters in a career-best time of 47.36, while placing second in the men's 200 meters in 21.20.
• Senior Vanessa Horn (Ludwigsfelde, Germany) crossed the line first in the women's 400 meters in a time of 54.95.
• Junior AJ Jordan (Columbus, Ohio) bested the field in the men's 200 meters in a time of 21.14.
• Redshirt senior Cassidy Allen (Lakewood, N.Y.) set a career-high clearance of 14-2 (4.32m) to win the women's pole vault.
• Redshirt senior Lane Graham (Killbuck, Ohio) won the men's weight throw with a mark of 65-6 (19.96m).
• Redshirt senior Brook Boes (Tiffin, Ohio) won the women's weight throw with a mark of 64-10 (19.76m), while finishing second in the women's shot put with a mark of 50-7.50 (15.43m).
• Redshirt sophomore Jeffrey Usman (Warri, Nigeria) soared a career-long mark of 24-4.25 (7.42m) to take the title in the men's long jump.
• Isaac Baltic eclipsed a career-best 17-4.50 (5.30m) to win the men's pole vault, while sophomore Kaden Rambatt (Sharon, Wis.) finished second with a mark of 16-9.50 (5.12m).
• Freshman Ty Munroe (Lewis Center, Ohio) placed second in the men's 800 meters in a time of 1:53.69.
• Redshirt senior Ruth Webb (Akron, Ohio) placed second in the women's triple jump with a mark of 38-0 (11.58m).
• Freshman Amanda Rauch (Marietta, Ohio) finished second in the women's unseeded pole vault with a mark of 11-9.75 (3.60m).
• Sophomore Mariyah Moore (Cleveland, Ohio) crossed the line second in the women's 200 meters in a career-best time of 24.74.
• The men's 4x400 relay freshman Tayven Crump (Vandalia, Ohio), Jordan, Munroe and Styles won in a time of 3:14.14.
• The women's 4x400 relay of Branham-Patrick, senior McKenzie McNitt (Cleveland, Ohio), Moore and Horn placed second in a time of 3:53.44.

NATIONAL RANKINGS: The University of Akron track and field teams has garnered recognition for their efforts during the 2025 indoor season as the Zips are rated among the Top 30 in the Event Squad rankings for six events released on Feb. 17 2026, as part of the United States Track and Field and Cross-Country Coaches Association NCAA Division I Indoor Track & Field National Rating Index.

Akron is rated 11th nationally in the men's shot put, 13th in the men's pole vault, 14th in women's weight throw, 16th in women's shot put, 22nd in the women's pole vault and 23rd in the men's weight throw.

ZIPS RANK AMONG NATION'S BEST IN 2026 TFRRS RANKINGS: Akron has four individual student-athletes ranked in the Top 50 nationally by the Track and Field Results Reporting System (TFRRS) for the 2026 indoor campaign as Cassidy Allen is 25th in the women's pole vault (14-2/4.32m).

Additionally, Brook Boes is 40th in the women's weight throw (65-0.75/19.83m) and 44th in the women's shot put (52-2.75/15.92m) and Isaac Baltic is 46th in the men's pole vault (17-4.50/5.30m).

CRACKING THE ALL-TIME TOP FIVE PERFORMANCES: The Zips have added 16 overall top five performances and a trio of school records in program history to the record book during the 2026 indoor campaign.

NAME	EVENT/DATE	RANK – MARK
AJ Jordan	Men's 200M – Dec. 12	No. 4 – 21.12
Vanessa Horn	Women's 400M – Dec. 12	No. 2 – 54.31
Megan Hipple	Women's 5,000M – Dec. 6	No. 1 – 16:15.66
Cassidy Allen	Women's Pole Vault – Dec. 12	No. 4 – 14-1.75 (4.30m)
Brook Boes	Women's Shot Put – Dec. 12	No. 4 – 52-2.75 (15.92m)
Brook Boes	Women's Weight Throw – Dec. 12	No. 5 – 65-0.75 (19.83m)
Cassidy Allen	Women's Pole Vault – Jan. 16	No. 4 – 14-1.75 (4.31m)
Owen Wendl	Men's Shot Put – Jan. 23	No. 3 – 59-4.25 (18.09m)
Megan Hipple	Women's 5,000M – Jan. 30	No. 1 – 15:53.23
Noah Nyageo	Men's 5,000M – Jan. 30	No. 3 – 14:12.62
Vanessa Horn Mariyah Moore McKenzie McNitt Jackline Nanjala	Women's 4x400 Relay – Jan. 31	No. 1 – 3:41.04
Megan Hipple	Women's 3,000M – Feb. 7	No. 1 – 9:17.94
Noah Nyageo	Men's 3,000M – Feb. 7	No. 5 – 8:07.98
Lane Graham	Men's Weight Throw – Feb. 6	No. 4 – 66-3.25 (20.20m)
Abigael Kiplagat	Women's 5,000M – Feb. 6	No. 3 – 16:35.76
Cassidy Allen	Women's Pole Vault – Feb. 13	No. 4 – 14-2 (4.32m)